Prayer for Persecuted Christians!

JAMES 1:19 NLT19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow tospeak, and slow to get angry.

You learn by listening -- not by talking.

The biggest barrier to learning is thinking you already know asubject. If you think you already know everything, it isdifficult to learn anything more.

You can learn from every person -- if you will just listen towhat they have to say. Everyone knows something you do notknow.

Pride robs you from learning from others. Pride keeps youignorant -- while making you think you are wise.

ROMANS 1:22 NLT22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

This is not to say you should accept everything you hear astruth -- just that you should be humble enough, and respectpeople enough, to listen and evaluate what they have to say.

Listen and learn. Talk too much and only embarrass yourself.

PROVERBS 17:27-28 ICB27 The person who has knowledge says very little. And a personwith understanding stays calm.28 Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. Heappears to have understanding if he doesn't speak.

Proud people act as if they have a duty to display theirsuperior knowledge to all who will listen. They are quick tospeak, because they "know" they are right.

PROVERBS 10:19 ICB19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin. If you are wise, youwill keep quiet.

It is not wrong to talk -- just don't talk too much. And don'tbe so anxious to impress people with what you know.

ECCLESIASTES 5:3 NLT3 Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a foolmakes you a blabbermouth.

SAY THIS: I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow tobecome angry.

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 THE MESSAGE13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond thecourse of what others have had to face. All you need toremember is that God will never let you down; he'll never letyou be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to helpyou come through it.

All of us have been tempted to lose hope and give up. But wealways have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focuson the problem and give up.

Problems -- no matter how huge they seem to us -- are noproblem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God tosolve. But God wants us to trust Him.

So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel likegiving in and giving up?

Refuse!

Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in Hisfaithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will neverfail. God will see you through.

HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope withoutwavering, for He who promised is faithful.

When the devil tries to steal your faith, he tries to get youto quit speaking in agreement with the Word of God. Don't letit happen! Hold fast to speaking your faith! Keep on sayingwhat the Word of God says about you and your situation. Don'tbe moved by the circumstances.

GALATIANS 6:9 NIV9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper timewe will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don't grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word willwork and produce a harvest of blessing in your life. Don'tdoubt it!